Mango margaritas on the rocks should taste like the fruit: sweet, tropical, and bright with lime. This one does, and it comes together in about five minutes with a shaker and five ingredients.
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What Makes This Different
The mango nectar does two things at once: it delivers concentrated mango flavor and adds enough body that the drink feels substantial on the rocks. Most mango margarita recipes ask for fresh fruit or a blender. This one needs neither. Mango nectar, a shaker, and five minutes gets you there.
I've made a pitcher of these for almost every summer gathering I've hosted for the past few years. The batch recipe is at the bottom. It holds in the fridge for up to 24 hours and you just pour over ice when guests arrive.
★★★★★
"Delicious and easy recipe for mango margaritas! I made them for a gathering yesterday and they were a big hit! I rimmed the glasses with Tajin (chili, salt, lime mixture), it really brought out the color of the margaritas."
Lisa
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Mango nectar. This is the key call in the recipe. Nectar has higher mango content and a slightly thicker body than mango juice, which gives the drink more weight. Mango juice works too. The two are interchangeable here, but nectar is easier to find and comes in individual cans (Jumex is widely available), which means less waste if you're only making one or two cocktails.
- Blanco (silver) tequila. The lighter, cleaner flavor of blanco lets the mango come through without competing with it. Use 100% agave tequila. Anything not labeled 100% agave can legally contain up to 49% other spirits, which makes a rougher drink and increases the likelihood of a rough morning. Espolòn Blanco is a solid pick if you're looking for one.
- Orange liqueur. I use Cointreau. It adds sweetness, citrus depth, and a slight complexity that triple sec doesn't quite match. Triple sec works if that's what you have. Drillaud is a solid budget option. Grand Marnier will make a richer, more spirit-forward drink. If that's the direction you want to go, Lisa's OG margarita with Grand Marnier is worth making on its own terms.
- Fresh lime juice. Not from the bottle. Bottled lime juice contains preservatives that create a flat, slightly metallic note. It competes with the mango instead of brightening it. One lime gives you roughly an ounce of juice.
- Simple syrup. Half an ounce is enough to round out the tartness without making the drink sweet. If you're using a particularly sweet batch of nectar, taste the drink before adding the syrup and dial it back if needed. You can buy it or make your own simple syrup in about five minutes - equal parts sugar and water, brought to a simmer until the sugar dissolves.
- Kosher salt. For the rim. Not fine table salt. It sticks too densely and makes every sip taste salty rather than accented. Margarita salt works, too. A reader swapped kosher salt for Tajín and I can see why. Chili heat and lime against sweet mango is a good call.
How to Make It
- Rim the glass with a lime wedge and dip in kosher salt. Fill with ice and set aside.
- Combine the mango nectar, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker or mason jar filled with ice. .
- Shake hard for 20 to 30 seconds. The outside of the shaker should feel cold before you stop.
- Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Before You Make This
- Use 100% agave tequila. Tequila labeled only "tequila" (without the 100% agave designation) can legally contain other spirits. The drink will taste rougher and the hangover math is less favorable. This is the one place to pay attention to the label.
- Shake longer than you think you need to. Twenty to thirty seconds of vigorous shaking chills the drink and dilutes it properly. Under-shaken margaritas taste harsh and boozy because the ice hasn't had time to do its work. The goal is a shaker that's noticeably cold to hold.
- Skip the bottled lime juice. The flavor difference between fresh and bottled is most noticeable in cocktails, where there's no heat or other dominant ingredient to mask it. Bottled juice often has a slight metallic quality that sits at odds with tropical fruit.
- Don't salt the whole rim if you're unsure. A half-salted rim lets you decide sip by sip whether you want the salt. Run the lime around only half the rim before dipping.
- Making a pitcher. Multiply all ingredients by the number of servings and combine in a pitcher without ice. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add ice to each glass at serving time. Do not add ice to the pitcher or it will dilute as it sits.
- No cocktail shaker? A large mason jar with a tight lid works exactly the same way. Shake and strain through a fine mesh strainer.
- Adjust it to taste. The ratio in this recipe is balanced, but personal preference varies. If the drink is too sweet, add a small squeeze more lime. If it's too tart, add a touch more simple syrup. If you want more tequila presence, start with 2.5 oz instead of 2. Make small adjustments; a quarter ounce at a time is enough to notice a difference.
Serving Suggestions
A mango margarita on the rocks pairs well with anything that leans bright, salty, or spicy. A few things from the site worth making alongside it:
If you're setting out snacks, a homemade, chunky guacamole, this salsa made with avocado and feta cheese or this shrimp ceviche are natural fits as they are all bright, chip-friendly, and they don't fight the drink. For a fuller spread, add on these tacos made with shrimp and a chipotle cream; they hold up well next to something tropical and tart.
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Tequila's alcohol content means it won't freeze solid at standard home freezer temperatures, so yes, technically. Store the batch (without ice) in a zip-lock bag or freezer-safe container. It will come out slushy and cold rather than fully frozen.
Omit the tequila and orange liqueur and increase the mango nectar to 4 ounces. Add a splash of lime or mango-flavored seltzer to replace some of the volume. It won't taste like a margarita, but it'll be a good mocktail.
Make Ahead and Storage
Mix a pitcher up to 24 hours in advance: combine all ingredients except ice, cover, and refrigerate. Give it a stir before serving. Set out a salt-rimming station and a bucket of ice for guests to serve themselves. Do not add ice to the pitcher itself; it will dilute the batch as it sits.
Pre-calculated batch quantities:
| Ingredients | 8 servings | 12 servings |
|---|---|---|
| Mango nectar | 2 cups (16 oz) | 3 cups (24 oz) |
| Tequila | 2 cups (16 oz) | 3 cups (24 oz) |
| Cointreau | 1 cup (8 oz) | 1½ cups (12 oz) |
| Fresh lime juice | 1 cup (8 oz) | 1½ cups (12 oz) |
| Simple syrup | ½ cup (4 oz) | ¾ cup (6 oz) |
Combine in a pitcher without ice. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
More Margarita Recipes
You can find many more tequila drinks in our archives.
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Recipe
Mango Margarita on the Rocks
Ingredients
- 2 ounces mango nectar
- 2 ounces silver tequila (100% agave)
- 1 ounce Cointreau or other orange liqueur
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- lime wedges and kosher salt, for rimming the glasses
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Instructions
Rim the glass:
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of a lowball glass. Invert and dip the rim in a shallow plate of kosher salt until fully coated. Set aside.lime wedges and kosher salt,
Make the margarita:
- Combine mango nectar, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is cold to the touch.2 ounces mango nectar, 2 ounces silver tequila , 1 ounce Cointreau , 1 ounce fresh lime juice , ½ ounce simple syrup
- Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Notes
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Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
Z. M. says
I liked this recipe. I switched out the simple syrup for agave syrup. Super delicious!
Love your twist! Thanks for stopping back to share your thoughts with the GWL community. Cheers!
Lisa says
Delicious and easy recipe for mango margaritas! I made them for a gathering yesterday and they were a big hit! I rimmed the glasses with Tajin ( chili, salt, lime mixture), it really brought out the color of the margaritas.
Perfect choice for Cinco de Mayo. Cheers!
Jeanette says
I Need to make a bunch of these can I do it the day before and store them in gallon zip lock baggies and freeze them. I'm told alcohol doesn't freeze
Hi Jeanette, I've never frozen these margs, but I don't see why you couldn't. The tequila won't freeze completely solid but that won't stop it from getting icy cold. Cheers!
Natalie says
This drink was delicious. It will have you feeling really mellow. Prefect drink for patio conversations, poolside or Oceanside view watching...... I will definitely make again.’mmm
Shababa says
Hi, can you make this 1-2 days ahead of time for a big party?
Hi Shababa, I suggest making the batch no more than one day before you serve them. Cheers!